Our People
People are our greatest asset.
We have put together an incredibly talented team and continue to support them through their career development. Pictor aims to provide a safe, healthy, innovative and engaging workplace for all of our employees across NZ, U.S. and India. Our team is diverse with permanent staff, long term contractors and consultants all blended into a high performing, adaptable and highly capable team.
We have extraordinary depth of experience and knowledge in our key product areas, and highly motivated teams who continue to evolve new products and technologies.
Executive Management
Managing Director
Dr. Jamie Platt
Jamie brings 20 years of progressive leadership in genomics and molecular diagnostics, guiding teams in developing, validating, and commercializing more than 40 innovative, high-complexity molecular tests for US and global firms (both LDTs and IVDs).
Jamie served as Chief Operating Officer at PGDx (acquired by LabCorp) and Inivata (acquired by NeoGenomics) leading development and operationalization of liquid biopsy products and completing two M&A exits in 2021 for a combined value of nearly $1 Billion US/$1.5B NZD ($965M USD/$1.45B NZD). As Chief Operating Officer at Inivata, Jamie led the organization’s transition from research-stage through early commercialization, developing and launching two best-in-class liquid biopsy products, as well as establishing a $25 million equity investment with follow-on acquisition by NeoGenomics. As Vice President of Genomic Solutions at MPLN/Geneuity and Director of Advanced Sequencing at Quest Diagnostics, Jamie introduced next generation sequencing (NGS) clinical assays and genomics products and line extensions.
Dr. Platt earned her Ph.D. in Molecular & Cellular Biology from Oregon State University and completed Post-Doctoral studies at University of California at Berkeley. She is founder and CEO of BRIDGenomics, a molecular diagnostic laboratory consulting firm and serves on the boards of Pictor, Ltd. and DxTerity Diagnostics.
Jamie is passionate about leveraging her expertise in product development and clinical laboratory operations using Six Sigma methodologies to create innovative products impacting clinical markets. She is an industry-recognized peer educator and speaker, holds multiple US and international patents and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications.
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Tadd Lazarus
Dr. Lazarus, who is based in San Diego, California and Austin, Texas, brings extensive experience as Medical Director and Chief Medical officer in the biotechnology and in vitro diagnostic (IVD) industries. He has special interests and expertise in medical diagnostics, molecular biology, medical marketing, companion diagnostics, reimbursement, and regulatory affairs.
Dr. Lazarus has spent more than 12 years as North American Medical Director for Roche Diagnostics (US), focused on routinising molecular diagnostics in the care of patients with infectious diseases, with a focus on HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis. As Chief Medical Officer at Gen-Probe, now Hologic, Dr. Lazarus designed a portfolio of viral infectious diseases assays that are both highly differentiated and globally accepted.
As Chief Medical Officer of QIAGEN, he made significant progress on Capitol Hill with regards to appropriate reimbursement for FDA-approved oncology companion diagnostics.
Chief Science Officer
Dr. Yoichi Furuya
Dr. Furuya is an accomplished researcher with a background as a faculty member at Albany Medical College (New York State), and as an NIH-funded investigator. With over 15 years of experience, his primary focus has been on pre-clinical studies, particularly investigating immune responses to experimental vaccines.
He obtained his Ph.D. in Medical Sciences from the Australian National University, and his early work on the development of a “universal influenza vaccine” significantly contributed to the establishment of a startup biotech company in Australia. After completing his Ph.D., Yoichi pursued postdoctoral training in the United States, where he established a successful research group that attracted funding from prestigious organizations such as the American Lung Association, American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, and American Association of Immunology.
During his time in the U.S., he also actively participated as a reviewer and editor for several internationally renowned medical journals and served as a grant reviewer for various funding agencies.
Quality and Regulatory Director
Dr. Andrea Kinga-Furuya
Andrea earned her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from Albany Medical College. She then joined the Diagnostic Immunology Laboratory as a research scientist at the Wadsworth Centre of the New York State Department of Health. During her time at the Wadsworth Centre, she acquired New York State’s Certificate of Qualification as a laboratory director in Diagnostic Immunology. In addition, she was also appointed Clinical Assistant Professor at the State University of Albany and served as an Adjunct Faculty at Albany College of Pharmacy, Albany, New York. At Pictor, Andrea oversees the regulatory and quality functions.
VP India
Sanjay Chakraborty
Sanjay is an astute sales, marketing, and business development professional with 22 years of experience in healthcare, medical equipment, clinical diagnostics and medical devices.
His global business expertise spans the Indian sub-continent, Asia, Middle East, Europe and South America.
A passionate and dedicated business professional, Sanjay has worked with various large American, European and Indian multinational organisations such as Siemens, Godrej Industries, Depuy Synthes (Johnson & Johnson), ConvaTec, Meril Life Sciences in India and Internationally through wholly owned subsidiaries.